Thank you very much to The Walrus and the Carpenter for helping me Beta this document.

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Chapter 24.- My price Hot Stuff

William POV

I´ve been running all evening, taking down as many Volturi soldiers while trying to catch up with Jacob. Whatever vampire he saw back in London, is obviously important enough for him to leave Nessie and us behind. With no explanation; he just started to run at an inhuman pace without looking back.

When Maya and I reach the exit door, I detected the scent of others. My priority was to get Nessie and Maya out of danger and follow Jacob and the girl.

I trust Cabrera will keep both of them safe from danger with her ability.

I stop when I hear steps behind me, and hide in the tall grass, waiting to see whom my opponent is. I'm hoping it's only one Guard so I can take him down easily.

My victim approaches, I jump the moment I know they're in my line of target, taking the bastard down and pinning them to the floor. A female grunt escapes her mouth.

"I´ve always wanted you to jump my bones, hot stuff, but I don´t think Maya will appreciate it," Cabrera´s voice sounds amused underneath me.

I step backwards releasing her arms and look around, expecting to see Maya and Nessie with her, but to my great disappointment it's only her.

"What are you doing here? You're supposed to be keeping the girls safe?" My voice comes out in a panic, but I don´t wait to see her reaction. I look up, knowing it will take Maya a little longer to arrive because of her speed, but see nothing.

"I highly doubt she'd able to keep up with you. It was hard for me to finally catch up with you," Cabrera adds.

I look down; she's still laying on the ground with me on top of her, a wide grin on her face. I quickly get off her and stand up. She sits up, stretches out her arm, and I help her get up.

"Where are they?" I was able to keep running and fighting, taking down three guards without feeling short of breath and with my mind focused on my task, but now, my breath can barely reach my lungs, and my concern increases with each second that passes that Cabrera does not answer me.

"They're safe, William," she steps closer and touches my arm in an attempt to comfort me, "but we need to return… Maya needs you." Her tone is sweet but serious, without a trace to indicate she's joking.

"No, Cabrera, she doesn´t needs me. I'm a threat if I return, now that Jacob is gone."

She shakes her head."William, the moment Jacob left, the group ceased to be the safest place." Her eyes break from mine." The Volturi might not know I'm with you guys, but I'm certain he is now also looking for me." Her face finally turns towards me again. "They're safer without both of us."

I don't like what she's implying—not one bit of it. Just the thought of Maya and Nessie on their own scares me to death. I need to think; there needs to be something we can do to keep us safe.

"Plus, Maya went a little berserk when she saw you leave," Cabrera´s voice interrupts my thoughts.

"What do you mean she went a little berserk?" I demand, and she starts circles her index finger near her temple.

"Cuckoo-cuckoo crazy. Nessie actually had to slap her across the face to get her to stop rambling. She was starting to bring a lot of attention toward us."

"Nessie slapped her?" Never in my life did I imagine that sweet girl actually slapping anything—least of all Maya—but Cabrera only nods, her eyebrows shooting up, her mouth pouting.

A small part of me is actually happy to know she cares so much for me; her actions during these last few weeks were not an act after all.

"She finally calmed down when I promise her I would catch up with you. Nessie had to drag her to a train to get out of London," she continues explaining.

"Where did they go?"

Cabrera instantly shrugs her shoulders. "Don´t know. I guess somewhere north." Her heads snaps towards that direction, obviously using her ability to track them.

"Then we should move south," I suggest. My heart aches at the mere thought of being further apart from them—especially Maya, but she is smart enough to hide.

I hope.

There's indecision in Cabrera´s face. "See…that is not going to work." She bites her lower lip. "I kind of promised her I would catch up with you and bring you back to her," this last part is barely a whisper.

"You promise her what?!" I can´t believe what I'm hearing.

"I have to keep my word. The last thing I want is to piss off the little firecracker." There is actually nervousness in her voice.

"Cabrera, we would be bringing the enemy right to them. Can you picture what would happen if the Volturi get a hold of Maya and Nessie? Hell breaking loose is a very close description of it," I state, running my hand back through my hair.

"That might not be so terrible." One of her eyebrows goes up and a wicked smile pulls at her lips.

"Really? Did you even listen to me?" My voice reflects how desperate I'm beginning to feel. There is no way in hell she is going to convince me to go back to Maya.

"I assume you are right—with the whole hell breaking loose thing, and all. However, what I was referring to is in regards to bringing the enemy to them. It sounds crazy, but I am certain Demetri would be tempted enough to go after Maya, Nessie and me, if we are together." She starts giggling like a little girl. "This might be perfect!" She pulls on my arm to follow her, but I don´t move an inch.

"Demetri is not getting near the girls—period, so let go of my arm!"

Ignoring me, she pulls me with more force, dragging me north. "No, William. You're not certain how well Demetri can track Nessie, and we need to be involved in this in order for it to work." She stops and turns, looking me straight in the eye. "I have every intention on trapping Demetri and to make the Volturi's life harder without his precious tracker, and I don´t care if this is the last thing I do."

"I don´t believe he is going to be alone, Cabrera. We'll be outnumbered."

Her expression falters, but her resolve is set. "Then it doesn´t matter where we are. If he finds us we're going to be outnumbered, and at least you'll get to say goodbye to her."

I sigh, knowing our chances are slim. I would love to hold her one last time, let her know how much I love her, to kiss her goodbye.

Unless…

"Cabrera, maybe we might have the slightest hope." The image of the vampire we met six years ago comes to my mind, Fred, the reason why we got teamed up with Nessie and Jacob.

"How about we track a vampire who is hard to get close to and one whom you won't get a good feeling around at first. Afterwards we'll go and look for Nessie and Maya." As the idea circulates in my mind, I begin to have doubts. How did Maya put it? He might as well be at the top of the Himalaya, for all we know.

Cabrera´s face starts to change, and the grin I saw when Maya mentioned the theory of the mermaid coven appears on her lips. "That is an idea I can track!" her voice is suddenly full of excitement. "He is not far away from here, William. He's up north, maybe Ireland?" She flashes me a crooked smile, and I can´t help smiling back at her.

"Then what are we waiting for, my lady. Lead the way." I step to one side, motioning with my hand for her to guide me. I even make a small reverence, keeping up with the whole act.

"Always a gentleman," she says stepping forward before stopping. "Unfortunately I'm not a lady." She moves to the other side, slapping my butt as she passes me before running as fast as she can.

"Cabrera! Maya is not going to be happy with what you just did," I shout, but I'm not really angry by her action.

"What she doesn´t know won´t hurt her. Plus, that's my price, hot stuff, so get used to it!" I hear her guffaw in the distance.

Well, if a couple of slaps on my butt is what it'll take her to find Fred, then there's no need for Maya to really know about it.